Vernon Kay and Reggie Yates to leave Radio 1
Jameela Jamil is the first ever solo female to present the Chart Show
Matt ﻿Edmondson to present weekend mornings 10am-1pm
New shows for YouTube sensations Dan and Phil and for Tom Deacon
After nine-and-a-half years working weekends at Radio 1 Vernon has decided to hang up his headphones to spend more time with his family, while Reggie, who has presented Radio 1’s Official Chart for the past five years and been at Radio 1 and 1Xtra for 10 years in total, has decided to move on to concentrate on other work including a new documentary series for BBC Three and film projects.

Vernon said: “I’ve had an incredible ﻿nine-and-a-half years at Radio 1 that has exceeded all of my expectations, it has been a fabulous experience and I’ve loved the weekends I have spent with my listeners. However, when I was offered a contract extension I thought long and hard, but after 12 years of working weekends with CBBC, T4 and Radio 1, I felt it was the right time to leave as the girls are now both in school so weekends are more precious than ever.”

Reggie said: “I have absolutely loved my time hosting the Chart Show. It’s been a privilege to deliver to the nation the weekly No.1 song, but after 10 years at Radio 1/1Xtra I am looking forward to focusing on other projects and new challenges.”

Both will leave the station at the end of the year with Radio 1 having a brand new weekend schedule from the New Year, which will include:

Matt ﻿Edmondson will present a new show on weekend mornings from 10am-1pm, packed full of music and cheeky, irreverent humour. Matt, who currently presents a Wednesday night comedy show on Radio 1, is to take over from Vernon’s Saturday show and also from Sara Cox’s Sunday show, as she will be moving to present Radio 1’s 10am-1pm weekday show when Fearne Cotton goes on maternity leave at the end of the year.

Talking about his new show Matt said: “I am delighted that from January I'll be spending my weekends sandwiched between Gemma Cairney and Huw Stephens - it is literally a dream come true, although of course in my actual dream everyone was wearing fewer clothes.”

Jameela Jamil will move from Radio 1’s Request show to present the iconic Radio 1’s Official Chart becoming the first solo female presenter of the Chart Show since it began back in the 1960s as Pick Of The Pops. Jameela who joined Radio 1 earlier this year, will count down the week’s Top 40 songs every Sunday including presenting the last hour in vision on bbc.co.uk/radio1, screening the Top 10 videos in full.

﻿Jameela said: “I am absolutely delighted and honoured. I'm fully aware that I have big shoes to fill and am so excited to get started... I've grown up listening to the official chart so I cannot thank Radio 1 enough for the amazing opportunity.”

Taking over the mantle of the Sunday night Radio 1 Request show are YouTube sensations Dan and Phil who will have a brand new fully visualised show between 7-9pm, interacting with listeners and playing the music they want. This brand new show along with the last hour of the charts will make Sunday evenings a fully visual experience on Radio 1 from 6-9pm.

Dan and Phil have been amazing audiences online with their amusing videos, which have seen them clock up an incredible 100 million views and almost one million subscribers to their respective YouTube Channels, Danisnotonfire and AmazingPhil. They have previously presented shows for Radio 1 including a Christmas special featuring a mixture of music and visual joy.

Dan and Phil said: “We are extremely excited to start this new show! We think it's really changing the idea of a request show and bringing it into the internet generation. It's going to be an explosive two hours of great music, lols and interactive content that's completely visualised on the Radio 1 website and we want it to stand out as one of the highlights of the week!”

Completing the new schedule is comedian Tom Deacon, who will present a brand new Wednesday night comedy show at 9pm each week.

Speaking about his new show Tom said: "I'm really excited about this new show. I've been doing stand-up comedy for six years and presenting on Radio 1 for the last three, so I’m delighted to be bringing these things together. Expect awesome comedians live in the studio, great music, and lots of laughs... I can’t wait to get started."

Ben Cooper, Controller BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 1Xtra, said: “I’d like to thank Vernon and Reggie who have both been excellent ambassadors for Radio 1 and Radio 1Xtra during their ten years with us. I wish them all the very best.

“I’m excited by our brand new shows, which will appeal to the smartphone generation with our audience able to listen, watch and share Radio 1’s great content.”

The new schedule changes will come into effect from the beginning of January.

BBC Pressoffice

Vernon has a lot of TV commitments too and probably be snapped up to host a show on Heart. How has Sarah Cox survived the oldies cull? She must be on borrowed time and Fearne Cotton's pregnancy is no doubt a factor. The BBC are certainly determined to drive away the over 30s.